On Thursday night we found a lovely b&b in Chippenham so we could visit the Wiltshire & Swindon Archives. My cousins have done so well in researching the Alley family but have been unable to find the surname of Jane who married Henry Alley around 1698, possibly in Wiltshire. I was hoping I could solve the mystery but it wasn’t to be. Sorry Kay & Wendy but I did try.

Before the Alleys moved to Swindon to work on the Great Western Railway, they lived around Trowbridge in several small villages. We couldn’t visit them all but decided to go to Bradford-on-Avon. It was the most beautiful historic village I’ve ever seen. Absolutely georgeous.

The Alleys worked with wool at that time & we found “Weaver’s Lane” – we had a lovely wander.

It was amazing to think that the Alleys lived there so long ago & walked those streets.

Of course we had to finish with scones, jam & clotted cream & a lovely pot of tea in the tea room! The building was built in 1502!!!!

(I’m trying to post too many pictures in this blog so I’ll add the others in a 2nd instalment)